Study suggests emerging digital divide between renters and homeowners
According to a new study, renters are almost twice as likely as homeowners to report that their home broadband connection is average or unreliable, suggesting that a digital divide is emerging between those who rent and those who own their homes.
The figures were detailed in a new study carried out by Portland Communications on behalf of the Quality of Life Foundation and CityFibre. The study polled 1,012 online adults in the UK and found that 80 per cent of those surveyed said their daily life would be impossible or significantly worsened without the internet.
According to the survey, just 1 per cent of respondents said the internet was not important to their lives at all. The number of people who said that their daily lives would be “impossible” without the internet, in comparison, rose more than one third from prior to COVID-19, to 42 per cent.
The divide between renters and homeowners in the study highlighted the impact of the pandemic, with homeowners finding it 21 per cent easier to work or school their children from home.
Overall, 69 per cent of respondents said that they had experienced interruptions to their broadband service over the past year, with internet use having soared over lockdown, putting pressure on networks. 87 per cent said that a faster or more reliable broadband connection would improve their day to day lives.
CityFibre CEO Greg Mesch said: “Lockdown has put pressure on every part of our lives, and the digital infrastructure supporting this country is no different. Slow and unreliable copper-based networks are no longer fit for purpose. The nation’s upgrade to fast and reliable Full Fibre connectivity can’t come soon enough.”
“What this research highlights is that those in rented or social accommodation are often worst affected by poor quality connectivity. Often the biggest challenge to address this is securing permissions from landlords to install new Full Fibre networks. Industry, landlords, and the Government must redouble efforts to overcome this barrier quickly to ensure that no one is left behind.”
